Architect and designer Cesare Lacca is renowned for the modernist furniture he created during the 1950s. Made with materials like teak, glass and brass, his work continues to command great interest from mid-century modern collectors. His pieces have recently found their way onto some of the 21st century’s most trendy television and movie sets.
Lacca was born in Naples, Italy, in 1929. Like many Italian designers in the 20th century, he moved to Milan after World War II to launch his career. At the age of 20, he was selected by a group of American curators for inclusion in the 1951 landmark exhibition “Italy at Work: Her Renaissance in Design Today” at the Art Institute of Chicago. It showcased Italian designers who had embraced modernist principles and rejuvenated traditional Italian crafts, like Carlo Mollino, Franco Albini and Gio Ponti.
Lacca designed a dizzying array of tea carts and serving trolleys across his career, including magazine racks and coffee tables. Lacca’s most well-known piece is a tea cart — most commonly used as a bar cart — that Cassina manufactured. It features beautifully sculpted beech, cedar, teak and walnut with brass details, a glass tabletop and a removable glass tray.
This Lacca cart was featured as Don Draper’s office bar in his Manhattan advertising agency on several episodes of the wildly popular television show Mad Men, reinvigorating the interest of collectors. Several other Lacca pieces have been part of the set decorations in the television series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the movie Being the Ricardos.
On 1stDibs, find Cesare Lacca tables, racks and stands, seating and more.
1950s Cesare Lacca Italian Midcentury Design Vase Tripod Stand
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Brescia, IT
Brass and enamel Excellent condition Great manufacture Literature: R. Aloi, l'Arredamento moderno, Quinta serie, Milano 1952, fig 720.
Brass
$2,400 / set
Pair of Cesare Lacca Brass Candelabra
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Hanover, MA
Pair of solid brass Italian 1950's candelabra by architect-designer, Cesare Lacca. Each holds four candle tapers. Look closely at the phenomenally skillful brass work using solid bra...
Brass
$2,143
H 17.72 in Dm 8.86 in
Carl Auböck Midcentury Raffia Umbrella Stand, Wastepaper Basket, 1950s, Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Very rare simple and elegant midcentury umbrella stand or wastepaper basket designed by Carl Auböck II and manufactured by Werkstätten Auböck in the 1950s, Austria. It's made of raff...
Brass
$10,293
H 19.97 in Dm 8.67 in
Colorful Hand Painted Ceramic Midcentury Umbrella Stand by Eberhard Dänzer, 1965
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Stunning, unique one off & rare Mid-Century Modern vintage umbrella Stand or holder signed and dated (5.1.1965) by the German artist Eberhard Dänzer (1935-2008) Karlsruhe, Germany in...
Ceramic
Elio Schiavon Italian Midcentury Pottery Ceramic Vase 1950s
By Elio Schiavon
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury ceramic vase designed by Elio Schiavon with signature under the base, Padova 1950s.
Ceramic
Pair of Arts & Crafts Brass Two Light Candelabras
Located in Montreal, QC
This unusual pair combine an Arts & Crafts sensibility with a Gothic twist. Each tapering central spire supports a pair of pierced hexagonal open candleholders. The round base is tur...
Brass
Guido Gambone Italian Midcentury Stoneware Ceramic Vase 1950s
By Guido Gambone
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design stoneware vase with abstract decoration, designed and produced by italian artist Guido Gambone with mark under the base, Italy 1950s
Ceramic
$350Sale Price|70% Off
H 19.5 in W 13 in D 10 in
Handmade Garden Copper Vase with Brass Handles/Umbrella stand
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
2-347 Handmade garden copper vase with cast brass handles. Can be used as umbrella/stick stand
Brass, Copper
Magnificent pair of candelabra
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent pair of gilt and patinated bronze candelabra depicting mermaids
Ormolu, Bronze
$425
H 28.625 in W 11.375 in D 11.625 in
1950s Mategot Style Umbrella Stand in Black and White Enameled Metal
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Umbrella stand in black and white enameled metal embodies the sculptural sensibility of 1950s French modernism. Five radiating metal rods extend from a rectangular base, each topped ...
Metal
$420Sale Price|30% Off
H 5.91 in W 4.73 in D 1.97 in
Italian Midcentury Ceramic Vase by Gualdo Dolci, 1950s
By Gualdo Dolci
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Beautiful vase by Gualdo Dolci also signed Rappallo a place in Italy famous for their beautiful ceramics in 1950s.
Ceramic
Stunning Pair of 7-candle Gothic Revival Brass Candelabra
Located in Leesburg, VA
Stunning Pair of 7-candle Gothic Revival Brass Candelabra Anonymous Europe; 19th century Brass or bronze Approximate size: 13 (h) x 21 (w) x 4 (d) in. This pair of European bras...
Brass
$1,816
H 19.3 in Dm 10.24 in
1970s Vintage Italian Mid-Century Italian Bamboo, Rattan & Brass Umbrella Stand
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Tall and large vintage Mid-Century Modern Gabriella Crespi style Hollywood Regency umbrella stand / holder made in Italy, circa 1970s. Made of lacquered bamboo and rattan with a pati...
Brass
$1,743Sale Price|20% Off
H 12.21 in W 12.6 in D 7.09 in
Guido Andloviz Italian Midcentury Green Ceramic Vase, 1950s
By Guido Andlovitz, S.C.I. Laveno
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern design ceramic vase model “1316/4” designed by Guido Andloviz and produced by S.C.I. (Società Ceramica Italiana, Laveno) with green semi-gloss enamel, 1950...
Ceramic
Midcentury Italian Sculptural Bar Cart/Tea Trolly by Cesare Lacca
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Buffalo, NY
Organic trolley from the 1950s, Italian design by Cesare Lacca, beautiful sculpted walnut. Three removable trays, brass mountings. Made in Italy. Hand delivery avail to New York City...
Brass